Lafayette water bills could rise under city council proposal

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Water bills in Lafayette could increase nearly 50 percent by 2019 if a fee increase is approved Monday by members of Lafayette City Council.

If approved, the rate per 1,000 gallons of water will increase next year from $2.16 to $2.97, and again in 2019 to $3.26, for customers who use roughly 5,000 gallons a month, according to the proposed ordinance.

The fee increases calculate to a 36 percent jump next year, followed by an 11 percent rise in 2019.

Kerry Smith, superintendent of Lafayette Water Works, said the average customer's monthly bill will increase from $12.13 to $16.51, and again to $18.31.

"We haven’t had a rate increase for 17 years," Smith said.

But the proposal comes after the city council voted in January to increase sewer rates by 27 percent over three years.